Exhibitor.



R. ALBERTSON & F. M. & W. WOODWARD.

EXHIBITOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 12, 1908. 979,239 Patented Dec. 20, 1910.

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m F% 67 077/ W 66 7 1M. Wwwmw Y L c/AM JWWWQ/ R. ALBERTSON & F. M. & A. W. WOODWARD.

EXHIBITOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 12, 1908. 979 239 Patented Dec. 20, 1910.

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UITE STATES PATEN @FFIQE.

ROBERT ALBERTSON, FRANK M. IVOODVTARD, AND AMOS VJ. \VO ODWAR-D, OF ROCK- FORD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS OF THREE-FOURTHS TO SAID ALBERTSON AND ONE- F'OURTH T0 SAID FRANK M. WGODWARD.

EXHIBITOR.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ROBERT ALBiiR'rsoN, FRANK M. IYoomvano, and Amos IV. \Voonwam), citizens of the United States, residing at Rockford, in the county of Winnebago and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Exhibitors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for exhibiting or displaying advertisements, pictures and the like.

The object of this invention, generally stated, is to provide a compact, comparatively light device adapted to display a large number of advertisements, singly and in regular succession.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus embodying the features of our invention, the front of the inclosing case being omitted. Fig. 2 is a section on dotted line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of said apparatus, the top wall of the inclosing case being omitted. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the card holders. Fig. 5 is a section on dotted line 5 5 of Fig. 1.

For the sake of brevity, the advertisements, pictures or labels to be exhibited, will be referred to hereinafter as cards.

The embodiment herein shown of our invention comprises a plurality of card holders 1, a separate holder being provided for each card to be exhibited. Said holders are herein shown as consisting of a rectangular frame having inturned flanges 2 at the sides and bottom, which flanges are adapted to overlie the corresponding edges of the card. The card holders 1 are mounted to slide vertically in guides 3, one being provided for each side edge of each holder, said guides being rigidly secured in two parallel rows within the supporting frame. The structure, or at least that portion of it containing the card holders 1, is of sufficient height to provide a space 4: above the space normally occupied by said holders, in order that any holder may be raised above its fellows to display the card carried by it. The length of the guides 3 is substantially twice the height of the card holders 1.

The means herein shown for vertically moving the card holders 1 comprises a drum 5 provided with journals 6 which are rotatably mounted in bearing openings in the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 12, 1908.

Patented Dec. 20, 1910.

Serial No. 415,511.

frame members 7. Any suitable means may be provided for rotating said drum, as, for example, a dynamo or a spring motor 8, power being communicated from the motor to the drum 5 in any common or preferred way, as, for instance, by means of a gear drive 9. Upon the periphery of the drum 5 are arranged studs 10, one for each of the card holders. arranged so as to act singly upon their card holders and in regular sequence from front to rear of the group of holders. To this end the studs 10 may be arranged spirally upon the drum 5, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

Directly above the drum 5 is a shaft 11 mounted in the frame members 7. Upon said shaft is pivoted a plurality of levers 12, the free end of each of which levers is conneoted by means of a link 13 with the center of a card-holder, upon the rear side thereof. In the present arrangement of the parts, the levers 12 are bent in order that they may not project above the upper edges of the card holders, as shown in Fig. 1. Fixed to each lever 12 is a finger 14 adapted to be engaged by one of the studs 10 upon the drum 5 for tilting the lever 12 to elevate the attached card holder into position to exhibit the card carried by said holder. As indicated in Fig. 1, the outer ends of the studs 10 are made broad enough to retain the card holders 1 in elevated position for the desired length of time.

In the present embodiment, the card holders 1 are restored to position by gravity af ter having been elevated to display the cards carried thereby. In order to cushion their fall, suitable means such as coiled tension springs 15 may be provided, said springs being attached at one end to the supporting frame, and at their other ends to pins 16 fixed to and extending upwardly from the levers 12. Below the group of card holders 1 and at each side thereof is a buffer strip 17 of felt or other suitable material. A case 18 of any suitable form and construction may be provided to inclose the mechanism. In the forward side of said case, and registering with the space 41, is a glass-covered sight-opening 19 (Fig.

Assuming each card holder to be provided with a card, the operation is as follows: In the rotation of the drum 5, the studs 10 strike the fingers 1e successively and elevate the Preferably the studs 10 are card holders, one after another, into the space t above the group of card holders. The fiat upper ends of the studs 10 retain the holders 1 elevated for the desired length of time. As soon as the stud 10 has been rotated out from under the finger l-l-, the card holder drops by gravity into its initial position, the spring 15 and the buffer strips 17 cushioning its fall. The studs 1.0 are so arranged. upon the drum 5 that as one card holder drops out of View, another rises to take its place.

It Will be seen that We have produced a device that exceedingly compact when the number of cards displayed is considered, thus adapting the machine to use in street cars and other places Where the space available for such a purpose is very limited.

We desire it to be understood that in the practical manufacture of this device We do i not regard ourselves as limited to the precise construction herein described, inasmuch as many departures from said construction may be made within the scope of the ap pended claim.

Vl e claim as our invention:

In an exhibitor, in combination, a rotatable drum carrying peripheral studs; a shaft extending parallel with said drum; a plurality of levers mounted on said shaft; a finger on each of said levers arranged to be engaged by one of said studs; a plurality of card holders each connected with one of said levers; a pin fixed to each of said levers; and springs attached to said pins for cushioning the fall of said card holders when said studs are rotated out of engagement with said fingers.

ROBT. ALBERTSON. FRANK M. lVOODVVi-XRD. AMOS W. "WOODWARD. lVitnesses G. V. TAYLOR, E. E. OOBURS. 

